NCRPO to deploy over 14,000 cops to secure 'Simbang Gabi, Christmas season
photo: NCRPO
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be deploying more than 14,000 policemen to secure the traditional “Simbang Gabi”, or night mass, and the Christmas and New Year revelries in Metro Manila.
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin said all police forces in Metro Manila are now on heightened alert status as part of the general security measures for the Holiday season.
“We are already on heightened alert and we will be deploying our personnel in churches, transport hubs and other areas where people usually converge especially during this time of the year,” said Aberin.
“We will also be setting up police assistance desks in some shopping malls. Aside from that, as part of our commitment, we will be detailing police personnel in all stations of the LRT and MRT in Metro Manila,” he added.
As to the deployment of policemen to LRT and MRT stations, Aberin said they plan to provide at least two policemen per stations to augment Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
Aberin said security assessment will still be conducted in the next few days to determine if there is a need to go on highest security alert status. He, however, said the deployment of policemen will step up starting Dec. 16, or the start of the “Simbang Gabi”.
The priority of the deployment during “Simbang Gabi”, according to Aberin, are churches and all the roads leading to and from them, from the evening to dawn.
While the NCRPO has not received any serious threat, Aberin said they will not lower guard and vowed to continue intensifying police presence and intelligence-monitoring in coordination with the military and the intelligence community.